Former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay, has expressed his worry over Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory in the just-ended NPP primaries.
In an interview, the former Chairman of the party stated that he had expected the Vice President to perform better.
Albeit, he said the performance was still a clear indication of the party’s support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer.
“This was a contest and the people have spoken. This was the first he [Mahamudu Bawumia] had been in such a contest. Although we all know that he has been a running mate for close to eight years, in such an election this was his first time. People were expecting more, but in an election like this and you polled 61%, for me that is a very good and impressive result. This was not what I was expecting. It was surprising that Ken could get that very much. He did very well.”
Freddie Blay
He added that all the Vice president was constitutionally required was to get past 50% plus one.
“That is what the framers of the constitution have put it; that for you to lead the party, you have to get that number of votes or more. However, he is well. What an impressive backing he had. It follows the tenets of the national constitution.
“The national constitution says that when you are going for a contest to become the president of this country, you should win 50% plus one. That is what the constitution says and it makes sense. You can’t take about 30% to be in charge of the party and expect them to bow to you in a very keen contest. You can’t be sure of the support you have from the party. So 50% plus one, it means that you have a comfortable majority.”
Freddie Blay
He again emphasized that the Vice President should have done better than he did.
“I expected him to get more. Well, it is a question of numbers and politics is a matter of numbers. So if we don’t want them for arguments sake. And so if 70% of the electoral college of 200,000 have all voted for you, it would have been an indication that the party is solidly behind you.
“But as I said this is hopeful but not what people were expecting. If he had gotten 80% that would have been better but the reality is what it is. However, 61% is a very emphatic percentage from the electoral college so far as I am concerned. So notwithstanding what we were expecting, which you might have not had, it doesn’t take away from the win.”
Freddie Blay
NPP Democratic Traditions
He praised the peaceful and fair conduct of the elections and touched on how democratic the NPP is.
“These elections were fair and very well organized. Everything went well and it is therefore the people who have spoken. We accept it and move on. What is important is that there was a contest. Democracy means a clash of ideas. Maybe we belong to the same family, but even within our traditional setting, when there is a vacancy, there is a struggle. Otherwise, complacency sets in and people begin to feel like it is theirs. In such a situation apathy sets in. Whether it is kingship or it is a chief. “It belongs to me” is not what we are doing. This means it is a contest and a contest helps democracy so far as it gingers the base of the party. It makes it look beautiful.”
Freddie Blay
In the counter-argument from the opposition party NDC that the contest showed less approval for the Vice President he indicated that the NDC was not too good at what can be referred to as democracy. He cited Dr. Duffour’s premature withdrawal from the race as an instance of stifling democracy within the NDC.
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